Section: Niner Insider Blog

Ask Sean Mannion about the 49ers and the former Oregon State quarterback morphs from draft prospect to franchise historian: He launches into Steve Young’s zig-zag touchdown scramble against the Vikings, Garrison Heart’s 96-yard run against the Jets, Terrell Owens’ game-winning playoff catch in traffic against the Packers … …

The 34-year-old former Texas long snapper is older than all but three players on the 49ers roster (Phil Dawson, Justin Smith and Anquan Boldin) and has spent more time in fatigues than a football uniform: Prior to playing organized football for the first time as a 29-year-old college student, the Dublin native was a Green Beret who earned a Bronze Star in Iraq. …